Rail-joint.



M. SUCH.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 19, 1914.

1,1 17,532. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

1% 15 13 J5 14 JJ Fig-2r g jj 115 HT 151K? 16 I r '71 f 12 15 15 15;; 15 1% g THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-LIYHO WASHINGTON, n. c.

MICHAEL SUCH, OF ST. BENEDICT, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Spcci fication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 19114.

Application filed August 19, 1.914%. Serial No. 857,540.

To all 10/1 om it may concern Be it known that l, Mionann Soon, a subject of the IIing of Hungary, residing at St. Benedict in the coiuity of (lambria and State of Pennsylvania. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following; is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful in'iproveinents in rail joints.

An object of the present, invention is to provide a. joint for rails in which the meetinp; ends are held in secin'ed position without the use of bolts or nuts, or any other parts that are apt to work loose, and a joint, which when positioned correctly, will not need further attention except for the renewal of ties and rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide a joint for rails in which the rails are held in fixed relation without the use of bolts and nuts and embodying ratchet fish dates and locking; members in lieu thereof.

"With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hercinafter more fully described and then claimed.

In the accompanying d rawin i; which shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention and to which reference is had herein by like characters designating corresponding parts throughout the several views: Fig' ure 1 is a side elcvational view of a rail joint built in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line lll llll of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of one of the locking members, and, Fig. 5 is a. detail perspective view of a portion of an improved hammer for positioning the locking members on the joint.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates the meeting ends of rails of usual construction. as shown more clearly in crosssection in Fig. 3 and which ails are seated on ties of any suitable construction and retained in position thereon by fish plates 11. These fish plates 11 are of a shape to snugly engage the side faces of the rails and extend upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to engage the under face of the rail head. At suitable points, the rails 10 are provided with openings that receive pins 12 extending laterally of the rail webs and received in sockets provided therefor in the fish plates. The bases of the fish plates are provided with notches 13 which provide seats for heads of retaining belts or other suitable fastening means that are ada itcd to be directed into the ties. The outer faces of the fish plates ll are provided with longitudinal recesses, the base of which as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided. with ratchet teeth 14L with the said teeth positioned so that the locking members which ratchet therewith may be moved in a direction toward the meeting ends of the rails 1.0 but which willbe prevented from a return movement.

The lockiiu; members 15 shown in Fig. cmnprise substantially U-shapcd devices having inwardly directed shoulders or lugs 16 at their upper ends with the faces thereof provided with ratchet teeth 17 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 14 of the fish plates. The fish plates 11 taper from the center toward each end so that the locking; members 1 L will more securely bind the same to prevent rattlingi. of the parts.

In assembling the parts, the rails 10 are first positioned on suitable ties and the fish plates ll placed at the meeting ends thereof and in engagement with the locking: pins '12. The fastening means are positioned in the notches 13 to hold the rails in direct position. The locking members 1;) are positioned on the rails 10 and moved upwardly a distance so that the ratchet teeth 17 engage the ratchet teeth 1st carried by the fish plates to hold the said fish platesin adjusted position and prevent accidental dis placement of the same.

A specially devised hammer has been provided for shifting the locking members 15 on the ratchet fish plates and is shown in detail in Fig. This hammer comprises a substantially U-shaped head 18 provided with a handle 19, and in operation, the ends of the hammer head 18 are caused to forcibly contact the members 15 to move the same toward the end of the rail until the parts are s-ecurcly locked in position.

What I claim as new is 1. A rail joint comprising meeting rail ends, a fish plate disposed at each side of the rails and overlapping; the joint, pins carried by the rail webs and projecting laterally therefrom to be received in sockets formed on the inner faces of the fish plates, ratchet teeth on the outer side'of each fish plate and having the teeth directed toward the joint of the rails, and locking ratchet members operatively engaging said ratchet fish plates.

2. A rail joint comprising meeting rail ends, iish plates positioned at said joint,

ratchet teeth on the outer face of said fish plates, and locking U-shaped ratchet memhers engaging said fish plates.

3. A rail joint comprising meeting rail ends, ratchet members positioned oneach side'of the joint, and locking members engaging said ratchet members to'prevent Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

